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Miami Heat rookie Kendrick Nunn made his first appearance in the playoffs since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Lakers posted a 116-98 win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Nunn recorded 18 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes while he shot 8-of-11 from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra subbed Nunn into the game during the third quarter as the Lakers’ lead ballooned to 32 points. Nunn helped fill the void of Goran Dragic, who suffered a torn plantar fascia in the first half and did not return.
The 18 points scored by Nunn were the most by a rookie player off of the bench in the NBA Finals since Lakers center Elden Campbell had 21 points in 1991 versus the Chicago Bulls, according to Basketball-Reference. The 18 points are also a new playoff career-high and it marked the first time this postseason scoring in double figures.
Afterward, Spoelstra said it was nice to see Nunn play well.
Well, you’re always rooting for him. This has been a tough playoff for him, and these are — the human side of it, you want to get him in there, you want him to play well and based on where we are, we could use some scoring punch. And you have to guard him and he’s very skilled. So we’ll see where we are for the next game.
Nunn could play a key role for the Heat over the remainder of the series with Dragic’s status unknown moving forward. Dragic has reportedly been able to put pressure on his left foot and has not ruled out playing again but he will likely miss at the least the next game or two.
In the meantime, it will be the “next-man-up” mentality for the Heat.
“When your number is called, you need to be ready to play,” Nunn said. “I haven’t played in a couple of games but that doesn’t mean anything. Once I step on the floor, I’m back at it like I’ve been playing. Always have that mentality and I always just stay ready.”
Game 2 is set to tip-off on Friday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
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